Archbishop Bellisario's Hour of Prayer Transcript- December 10, 2020

ARCHBISHOP BELLISARIO'S HOUR OF PRAYER TRANSCRIPT - DECEMBER 10, 2020


Good Evening.  Welcome to our opportunity we have here for an hour of prayer.  And, as we do every month, we’ll be able to pray the rosary in just a few moments.  Have the opportunity for adoration and for benediction.  As we’ve been doing for the past many months, of course, we’ve been praying for the intercession of our Blessed Mother to bring an end to this pandemic.  At the same time always, we pray through her intercession, that she will protect us all, protect all human life, especially the unborn, and bring legal protections to the unborn.  

This month we have another intention I’d like us to focus on, and of course, that is for the people of Haines.  As you know there was a natural disaster there last week.  And people continue to suffer, two people are still missing, homes have been destroyed, everyone’s life has been upended in very difficult and challenging ways.  So, we have, in particular, our intention this evening will be to pray for our brothers and sisters, the people of Haines, in the southeast section of our Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.  

It was just this past Tuesday, Pope Francis came out and challenged us to, for this next year, to pray through the intercession of St. Joseph.  He has declared a Year of St. Joseph.  The Catholic News Agency, I think, summed it up well when they reported that Pope Francis announced this Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church.  “Pope Francis said he was establishing the Year so that ‘every member of the faithful following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.’”  In making his declaration, Pope Francis noted that this year does mark the 150th anniversary, it was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX, on December 8, 1870.  “Pope Francis said that the Corona Virus pandemic has heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people, during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus.  He says, “each of us can discover in St. Joseph, -- the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence -- an intercessor, a support and guide in times of trouble.”

I think all of us have been reflecting upon many people, during these past 10 months, who have made great sacrifices: our first responders, our doctors, our nurses, our police officers.  So many have kept the grocery stores and gas stations open, and have made sacrifices to be there serving us.  I think it is very appropriate this evening we remember and recall all of those who are now in Haines doing the very same thing and to pray for them through the intercession of St. Joseph and in particular through our Blessed Mother.

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.